Door construction



Aug. 30, 1955 R. w. TADD 2,716,472

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug? 30, 1955 R. w. TADD 2,716,472

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed D60. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nventor Roy W 7,400 Jim (Ittorneg United States Patent 2,716,472 noon CONSTRUCTION Roy W. Tadd, San Gabriel, Calif. Application December 15, 1952, Serial No. 325,997 6 Claims. Cl. 189-46) This invention relates to a door construction and has particular application to enclose shower stalls and the like.

Variations in the width of a shower stall opening are quite great, being subject to the broad tolerances of building constructions. The proper fitting of a door for such an opening, therefore, becomes a custom job which, of course, is time-consuming and expensive. Even when the shower stalls of a large number of mass-produced homes are to be fitted with doors, each stall opening must be measured separately and the several door structures produced to fit the different stalls. Interchangeability of the several door structures is usually not possible because of the mentioned tolerances. Moreover, conventional door constructions of this type are not made up as unitary assemblies, but ratherthe frame is assembled as it is being installed and then the door is hung to fit the assembly. I p

Recognizing the above conditions, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel unitary door construction that, with easy facility, is adapted to be mounted in stall-enclosing position.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a uni-- tary structure, as indicated, that can be installed with either end up to provide fora right: or left-opening door, as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door unit of the character indicated that embodies a novel door frame capable of top for bottom inversion.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and'of general superiority and serviceability'.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the follow-.

ing description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the outwardly directed side of a unitary door construction according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken plan view thereof, as installed to close the opening of a shower stall.

Fig. is a similarly enlarged plan sectional view as taken on line 33 of Fig. l.

on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged broken cross-sectional views taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7, and line 10-10 of Fig. 8, respectively.

A generally conventional shower stall 10 is shown in Figs.-2, 3 and 4, the same having an access opening 11 framed laterally by the faces 12 of front wall portions 13 and, at the bottom, by the inwardly sloping face 14 of a curb 15 provided for retaining water in the stall. In the present instance, the inwardly facing faces 16 of wall portions 13 are used to mount the unitary door construction of the present invention. i

The unitary door construction that is illustrated comprises, generally, a door frame 17, and a swinging door 18 mounted in said frame.

The door frame 17 comprises stiles 19 and upper and lower rails 20 connecting said stiles to form a rectangular frame for door 18. As contemplated, the stiles are formed as metallic extrusions and rails 20 as metallic tubes, the metal preferred being aluminum.

The stiles 19 are each formed to have a relatively wide flange 21, an inwardly offset narrower flange 22, and a connecting web 23 for said flanges. The section thus formed may be defined as Z-shaped, although the angles seats for bolts 24 that extend through holes 25 provided in the webs 23 of the rails and secure the stile and rail components to form the mentioned rectangular frame, the rails serving as spacers for the stiles.

As seen in Fig. 1, the rails are spaced somewhat from the ends of the stiles which are disposed in opposed relation with the flanges 22 of the opposite stiles directed toward each other. In this manner, a door-housing recess 26 is provided in frame 17.

The door 18 is generally conventional for stall-enclosing purposes and, therefore, need not be described in de-' tail. A piano hinge 27 mounts said door on one stile 19 so that the same, when closed, resides in recess 26 and is retained in position against the flange 22 of the other stile by a suitable'latch 28. Handles 29 on both sides of the door are usually provided. It will be noted that the doorheight is made to be somewhat less than the spacing between rails 20. It will also-be noted that the frame 17 is symmetrical both horizontally and vertically, and can be secured in operative position with the hinge 27 at the right or left, as desired. Holes 30 for screws or bolts course, that said opening is not narrower than the spacing Fig. 5;-is. a still further enlarged fragmentary sectional I view of a detail of construction of the door frame.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan sectional view, similar to the left portion of Fig. 3, of a modification.

Figs. 7 and 8 are elevational views of further modifications.

between webs 23 of the opposed stiles, nor wider than the spacing between the holes 30 of the flanges 21 of said stiles, the unitary door structure above described can be readily applied to inner faces 16 of wall portions 13 and permanently aflixed thereto by said screws or bolts 31. The vertical disposition of the unit is immaterial providing the lower rail 20 is not above upper curb face 14 nor the lower edge of the door below said face. The efficiency of the wide flanges 21 will be realized when it is seen that the opening 11 may vary several inches between a maximum and minimum and yet be properly closed by the door structure provided. It is noted that the unit resides entirely rearward of' faces 16 and within stall 10.

The height of the present unit may be made to a standard dimension which usually is less than the height of opening 11. By manufacturing the unit in two or three standard widths, stall-openings in a width range as much as twelve or more inches, may be fitted with a closure in the manner above described. Thus, instead of requiring custom fitting of a door for a particular stall opening, the unitary structure above described may be mounted in 3 place by persons needing only the ability to apply a screw or a bolt.

Often times one or both wall portions 13 are not provided in a stall as shown in Fig. 6. In such case, a suitable angle member 32, cut to the length of stiles 19, may be first applied to each side face 33 of the stall in a position that brings the flanges 34 of said angle members in vertical alignment with the inner face 35 of curb 15. The inner faces of said flanges 34 now become the counterpart of faces 16 and receive the flanges 21 as before. Screws or bolts 36 secure the respective flanges 21 and 34 together. Angle members 32, being available in a variety of cross-sectional sizes, the flanges 34 may be selected to have desired width according to the width spacing between opposite side faces 33.

While not affording the same amount of leeway in the application of the present door structure, one stile 19 may have its flange 21 bent at right angles along an intermediate vertical line so that said bent portion may be applied and secured to a face 33 at right angles to the opening 11. Such expedient may be resorted to if only one side of the stall is provided with a wall portion 13. However, the earlier described forms are preferred.

The door is shown as provided with a sloping drip trough 37 which is mentioned only because, in practice, the upper and lower rails of the door 18 are both provided with tapped holes or the like, for screws that fasten said trough in place. It is a simple matter to secure said trough in place on the lower door rail after the unit is mounted with the hinge on the side desired.

A grab rail 38 for the safety of the user of the stall may be provided. The flanges 21, because of their substantial width, are admirably suited to mount such a rail as shown. One or two rails may be used and, if one is used, mounted either adjacent hinge 27, as in Fig. 1, or on the opposite side, as in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. Said flanges may be used to mount other fittings, such as hooks, soap. dishes, etc.

The foregoing contemplates door 18 as the only closure spanning between stiles. Therefore, the width of said door must be in accordance with the spacing of the stiles. In order that a door of standard width may be used in connection with frames 17 that may vary considerably in width, structures such as illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 may be provided.

As shown in the form illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9, when the frame 17 is not too greatly wider than a standard width door 18, a panel 40 may be interposed between one side edge of said door and the adjacent stile 19. Except for its dimensions, said panel may structurally resemble the door. By extending the panel in length to engage the rails 20, the same may be fastened not only to flange 22 of said stile, but also to the rails. In other respects the structure follows the earlier-described door construction.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, when the frame 17 is considerably wider than a door 18 of standard width and particularly when a central position of the door is desired, two panels 41 and 42, one on each side may be provided. Panels 40 and 41 are similar, but may vary in width and are similarly mounted. Panel 42 is similar to the other panels, mounts in the same way, but differs in that a stop plate 43 is provided to serve in the same way as flanges 22 to locate the door in the frame.

In both modifications, the hinge 27 for the door is applied tov the inner edge of panel 40 or 41, as the case may be.

It will be noted that, top and bottom, the ends of the door are spaced from rails 20, as before, so that face 14 of curb 15 may be cleared when the door is swung open.

While the invention that has been illustrated and described is now regarded as the preferred embodiments, the. construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, not desired to restrict the invention to the particular forms of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a door framing structure of the character described, comprising a rectangular frame comprised of two Z-shaped stiles and upper and lower tubular rails connecting said stiles at points spaced from their ends, said stiles being oppositely arranged and each provided with a mounting flange, a substantially narrower offset flange, and a connecting web, the latter flanges and webs of the two stiles cooperating to define a door-housing recess, and hinge means at the junction of the connecting web and offset flange of one of said stiles.

2. A door structure according to claim 1: the door being disposed substantially centrally between the rails and the spaces between the ends of the door and the rails being substantially equal.

3. A door structure adapted for mounting on the inwardly directed faces of opening-framing portions of a shower stall and the like, said structure comprising a rectangular frame comprised of oppositely arranged Z- shaped stiles and upper and lower rails connecting said stiles at points inward of their ends, each stile having a mounting flange and said flanges residing in the same plane and adapted to engage against the mentioned stall faces, each stile, inwardly of said flange, being provided with an offset relatively narrower flange and a connecting web, the latter flanges and webs of both stiles cooperating to form a door-housing recess, a door in said recess, and a hinge connecting the door to one stile.

4. A door structure according to claim 3: the door being disposed between and substantially equally spaced from the rails.

5. In a'door framing structure of the character described, comprising a rectangular frame comprised of two Z-shaped stiles and upper and lower rails connecting said stiles, said stiles being oppositely arranged and each provided with a mounting flange for connection with adjacent wall portions, a substantially narrower offset flange, and a connecting web, the latter flanges and webs of the two stiles cooperating to define a recess, panels in each side of the recess, said panels being fixed to the stiles and to, the upper and lower rails, door hinge means connected to one of said panels and a stop means at the inner edge of the other panel.

6. A'door structure of the character described, comprising a rectangular frame comprised of two Z-shaped stiles and upper and lower rails connecting said stiles, said stiles being oppositely arranged and each provided with a mounting flange, a substantially narrower offset flange, and a connecting web, the latter flanges and webs of the two stiles cooperating to define a door-housing recess, and a closure disposed in said recess and comprising a panel aflixed to each stile and to both rails and residing in said recess, a door hingedly connected to one panel, and a stop plate on the other panel for the free edge of the door to'locate the door, when closed, in alignment with the panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,656,278 Jarvis Jan. 17, 1928 2,595,506 Backman May 6, 1952 2,619,687 I Kahn Dec. 2, 19.52

FOREIGN PATENTS 503,812 ..Great Britain Apr. 14, 1939 

